The Dublin -based football club said they will be probing shocking allegations by former manager Roddy Collins that he walked in on a then-Bohemians volunteer with an underage boy 18 years ago.

They said in a statement: "We immediately began investigating these allegations so far as this is possible given the lapse of time.

"We have already spoken at length today and yesterday to individuals involved at board level, the youth set-up and other areas of the club at the time of the alleged incident.

"We will continue to consult with parties involved and appeal to any individual who has concerns, or who may have more information, to come forward to speak to us and/or Mountjoy Garda Station."

They slammed accusations by Mr Collins that he reported the alleged incident to the club and was ignored.

Bohemian FC said in a statement: "But contrary to Mr Collins’ assertions, club officials involved in 1998 insist he never communicated any allegations of such nature to them, nor did Mr Collins bring these allegations to the attention of An Garda Síochána.

"However, the accused individual was indeed investigated by officers at Mountjoy Garda Station over an incident with a minor, who was not a member of the Bohemian FC youth set-up or affiliated to the club, which is alleged to have taken place in Dalymount Park in 1998 and was quickly reported to the Gardaí by the child’s father.

"The safety of children is of utmost importance to Bohemian FC. As such, when notified of this investigation, the accused was immediately removed from his position and had no further affiliation with the club.

"We have made contact with An Garda Síochána today to seek their assistance in establishing the exact nature and conclusion of that investigation.

"Furthermore, when separate allegations against the individual not involving the club were made almost a decade later, for which this individual was later found guilty of, Bohemian FC board members and youth set-up volunteers alike assisted An Garda Síochána with their inquiries."